• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has declared 950 barangays in Negros Island Region as ‘drug-cleared.’
In a briefing during the 4th quarter joint meeting of the Provincial Development Council, Peace and Order Council and Anti-Drug Abuse Council held at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City on Wednesday, PDEA records indicated that the 950 drug-cleared barangays composed of 75.38 percent of 1,261 barangay in the entire region.
PDEA records further indicated that 87.69 percent of 601 barangays in Negros Occidental were also declared as drug-cleared, while only 36.06 percent of 61 barangays in highly urbanized Bacolod City was cleared of illegal drugs.
As of an October 22, 2025 validation by PDEA, 195 barangays in E.B. Magalona, Bago City, Binalbagan, Isabela, Manapla, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, cities of Silay, Sipalay and Victorias have maintained their drug-cleared status.
The Siquijor island province, which has 42 barangays, was also declared as drug-cleared by the PDEA.
Of the 557 barangays in Negros Oriental, PDEA reported that 60.50 percent of the villages are drug-cleared.*
